Licensing & Immigration
Whether you're from Canada or outside Canada and are wanting to explore, TravelNurse can help!
The number of nursing and allied health professional positions in Canada are growing at an exponential rate. If you are interested in relocating to Canada or to work in a temporary assignment in Canada you will need to:
- Hold a valid Canadian Nursing License in the province of your choice, AND
- Have a valid work permit / visa to work in Canada.
If you are interested in exploring Canada on your own terms, the easiest thing to do is contact us for more detailed information. Our educated team can discuss your options of starting on a great adventure!
Licensing in Canada
The Canadian motto is "From Sea to Sea." That is exactly how we picture you traveling with TravelNurse! With the world's longest coastline, and one tenth of the world's forests, you have your choice of replacing your alarm clock with the sound of crashing waves or the sound of chirping birds.
| In order to work in Canada you must be licensed in the province in which you would like to work. For detailed information on each province and their regulatory (licensing) bodies, please click the appropriate province/territory in the list below: | |||||
Click here for the Canadian Practical Nurses Association Directory (A = Association, R = Regulatory Authority [licensing body])
Click here to view the English Language Testing Requirements.
Click here for information for foreign-trained registered nurses and psychiatric nurses.
Immigration to Canada
Canada is a preferred destination to hundreds of Foreign Registered Nurses every year. A work permit is required for foreign nurses or allied health professionals to work in Canada. Please click here for a free Assessment form to see if you are eligible.
There are two options available for foreign workers to come to Canada to work: Temporary Work Permits and Landed Immigrant / Permanent Resident.
Temporary Work Permits
In order to work in Canada, foreign workers must have a valid work permit. The following steps must be followed before a work permit can be applied for by a foreign worker:
- A job offer from an employer must be issued.
- Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) must provide a labour market opinion (LMO) or “confirmation” of your job offer.
- After HRSDC confirms that a foreign national may fill the job, you apply to Citizenship & Immigration Canada for a work permit. This confirmation does not guarantee your entry into Canada. You must meet all immigration requirements. In some cases, a medical examination may be required.
There are specific conditions placed on a work permit. These may include things like the type of employment and employer, and/or the location and length you are allowed to work. Work permits can be renewed through the federal government’s processing centre in Vegreville, Alberta. Renewal of a work permit will require a new LMO from HRSDC.
When in Canada on a work permit, you can apply for permanent residency. Your application must be submitted outside the country (ie: at a visa office in a city across the Canada/US border, or at an office in your country of citizenship).
Landed Immigrant / Permanent Resident
If you want to come and live in Canada as a permanent resident without a work permit, but based on your work skills or experience, see if you qualify for the Skilled Worker Program. This process can take considerable time.
| For more information on Canadian immigration, click on the links below: | |||
Okanagan area, BC
New Brunswick
Coastal British Columbia
Yukon Territory
